AN AVIAN MODEL FOR THE REVERSAL OF 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE INDUCED ROTATINGBEHAVIOR BY NEURAL GRAFTING

A new animal model of parkinsonism was established in 'Black Silkie' c hickens by means of unilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine into th e substantia nigra. Apomorphine produced a strong contralateral turnin g pattern in the lesioned chickens, amphetamine had no effect. 6-OHDA treated animals received embryonic transplants of substantia nigra cel l suspensions which caused them to cease rotating (P < 0.01). This fin ding allows us to add an avian model, which offers unique methodologic al advantages, for reversal of 6-OHDA-induced rotating behavior by tra nsplantation.